Island



Nu. 6I6,46l. Patented Dec. 27, I898. F. K. GDFF.

SEPARABLE BUTTON.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Inventor.

Witnesses.

7. d/ Z/ m Attorn y4.

lJNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK K. GOFF, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO OREN C.DEVEREUX & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

SEPARABLE BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,461, dated December27, 1898.

Application filed March 22, 1898. Serial No. 674,740. (No model.)

To (tZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK KING GOFF, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSeparable Buttons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to separable buttons or studs; and the objectssought to be accomplished are to simplify the construction of suchdevices and to render the working parts more reliable in use and moreeasily operated.

separable studs as made prior to my inven tion usually consist of a shoecontaining a spring or catch which holds the head of a shank which isfirmly secured to the head, the spring being operated by one or morepushbars which extend through the sides of the shoe. These push-bars areusually made of comparatively thin metal and are rounded upon theirouter ends to present a proper finish. In separating such studs thepushbars are taken between the thumb and finger and pressed upon toactuate the spring. If the spring should be comparatively stid, whichfeature, by the way, is desirable in this class of studs, it is foundquite difficult to obtain sufficient pressure for such operation withoutto some extent hurting the fingers. Another disadvantage in the use ofthe ordinary push bar or bars is that when taken hold of the roundedends of said push-bars form a very insecure hold for the thumb andfinger, and hence the shoe is often dropped and lost after beingseparated. I have improved the construction of the push-bar of suchstuds by turning the outer free end either upward or downward to offer acomparatively flat and secure bearing for the finger and at the sametime make the shankof such pushbars narrower than those now in commonuse. I have also improved the action of such bar in operating thecatches.

My invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification, and in which-- Figure l is a side view of my improvedstud, showing a finger in dotted lines placed upon the outer end of thepush-bar. Fig. 2 is a face view of the shoe, showing the operative partsin place and the cover of the shoe removed. Fig. 3 is a similar Viewwith the catches and spring removed and the push-bar in position. Fig. 4is a perspective view of my improved push-bar.

Similar figures of reference indicate like parts in the various views ofthe drawings.

1 is the head of the stud, which is provided with a shank 2, rigidlysecured thereto. Said shank is of the usual construction, consisting ofa wire having a head at one end and a groove or neck designed to becaught by the catches for holding the two parts of the button together.

3 represents a tubular post secured to the shoe and surrounding theshank.

at is the shoe of the button, which consists of adisk having an annularrim at its outer edge. Placed within this shoe is a disk 5, providedwith the raised portions 6, 7, and 8, and a central depression 9, whichserves as a box or casing for the catches, spring, and inner portion ofthe push-bar. The catches 10 are thin sheet-metal parts seated in thedepression in the disk 5 and hearing at one of their edges against theraised portion 6. The catches bear against the rounded apex of theraised portion 6, and when the push-bar is operated the apex serves as afulcrum for the catches 10, and the latter are not compelled to slidelaterally, but open, as if pivoted. The raised portion 6 is rounded alsoupon its enlarged outer end to form a hearing for the spring 11. Saidcatches have apertures for the post 2, side ears to hold the spring 11in place, and lips 12, rounded upon their inner surfaces to facilitatethe action of the head of the push-bar. The push-bar 13 has a head 14 ofsubstantially shield shape, the shank portion of said bar having aturnedup outer end 15, or the end may be turned down, as shown in dottedlines, Fig. 1. The raised portion 8 is recessed to form a seat for thehead let of the push-bar 13, and the square shoulders back of the head14. normally rest against the offset shoulders of this recess. The shankof the push-bar 13 works in a guideway between the raised portions 8.

In assembling the parts the push-bar 13 may be placed in the shoe byfirst inserting the end of the portion 15 in a slot in the rim of theshoe 4 and turning said push-bar until it assumes the position shown inFigs. 2 and It will be noticed that the raised portion Sis recessed toform a seat for the head 14 and that the said push-bar Will be guided bya guideway between the raised portions 8 in a manner to create butlittle friction and to reliably prevent the bar from becoming displaced.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my improved stud is composed ofcomparatively few parts, that said parts are held in position by simplemeans which will not permit them to become easily disarranged andrendered inoperative, and that the push-bar having the outer turned end15 presents a reliable hold for the finger and thumb and one which willnot cause pain in operating a comparatively strong spring. The frictionupon the shank of the push-bar 13 is also reduced to'a minimum by meansof the construction of the raised portions 6 and 8.

Having described my invention, what I desite to secure by Letters Patentand claim 1s A separable button having a shoe containing a disk having araised portion of triangular form, with rounded apex-and base, for thepurposes described, and a raised portion 8 having a guideway for apush-bar, catchplates, having lips 12, the spring for holding the platesin contact, and the push-bar 13, ha\ing the arrow-shaped head 14, seatedin the guideway in the raised portions 8, substantially as described.

Signed at Providence,in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, this 18th day of March, A. D. 1898.

FREDERICK K. GOFF.

Witnesses:

' H. C. CURTIS,

JAMEs CAMPBELL.

